Breast Cancer Survivors Are SOARing Back to Their Kitchens
By Diane Riccardi, MPH, Registered Dietitian
and Sonya Pflanzer, MPAS, RD, CCMS, PA-C
The Survivors Overcoming and Achieving Resiliency Program (SOAR) is offered to breast cancer survivors and funded by a generous donation from The Giving Girls Charity. The program is hoping to expand to other clinics in the future.
The link between diet and cancer is clear. However, more and more health care professionals are recognizing that it’s difficult for their patients to meet their goals, like eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, when they’re not eating home-cooked meals. Despite the popularity of cooking shows and farmer's markets, we spend less time cooking and more time eating meals prepared away from home. What’s so bad about staying out of the kitchen? Although some restaurants provide high-quality food, those meals tend to be higher in calories, fat and salt, and lower in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protective nutrients, such as fiber and antioxidants.
That’s why SOAR has been helping breast cancer survivors master the art of healthful cooking since 2018. The program strives to support the emotional and physical health of patients as they transition from active treatment into the recovery or survivorship phase of cancer. Moffitt’s expert team leads survivors through activities such as art, meditation, mindful eating, medical management discussions, yoga and physical activity. But at its heart, SOAR is a program that provides patients with the kitchen skills they need to permanently change their eating habits to prevent cancer.
The teaching kitchen component of SOAR starts simply with preparing recipes while using pantry staples like canned beans, whole grains, olive oil, garlic and herbs. Rather than just saying, “Eat more vegetables,” we teach survivors how to make a variety of plant-based dishes such as a spinach, tomato and goat cheese stuffed portobello.
At the completion of the program, participants can master multiple recipes and cooking techniques that are not only healthy, but delicious. This translates into feeling confident and competent in preparing home-cooked, plant-based meals for themselves and their families.
SOAR meets virtually via Zoom for nine consecutive weeks during spring and fall. Breast cancer survivors who have completed active treatment are welcome to join us by calling 813-745-6506.